Just Gnoming Around

Get it? 

Instead of just clowning around, just gnoming around. 

Yep, I really do love gnomes that much. 


Buddy the elf says the best way to spread christmas cheer is to sing it loud for all to hear. But I am inclined to believe it really is to put on a pair of festive pjs and have some fun. Actually, not even pjs, just festive clothes. Last week at the park, this kid was wearing the cutest christmas dinosaur sweater. It made me smile. I enjoyed it so much that introvert Jessica actually started up a conversation with a perfect stranger just to talk to her about her son's awesome sweater. I tell ya, the older I get, the more generous I become with my complements, even doling them out to perfect strangers. But festive pjs, something that even a couple years ago I would have found an unnecessary frivolous splurge, have become something I enjoy getting. Of course, I am still very much me and managed to stack two coupon codes and a sale when buying them this year!

I got all the kids the same pjs as mine. They are Isla's favorite. She wears them as soon as they are washed. She wore them to pajama night at church and is planning on wearing them to pajama day at school on Friday. Even Connor likes his. I'm sure it's the gnomes. Because, when do gnomes not make people smile?! Come on, even the hardest of hearts crack a smile looking at adorable gnome Callum!

I really do love gnomes that much. Seriously.

Speaking of gnomes, did you know I've had a gnome stolen off my porch only to be returned a week later? Or that someone anonymously sent me one in the mail. And, just a couple weeks ago, one showed up in my yard, with gnome care instructions coming in the mail a few days later.

So, I'm just going to be over here gnoming around until Christmas.

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Memories

It's no secret that I am a total sap when it comes to my kids. I never really considered myself emotional. Even now, I wouldn't say I am emotional, but definitely more so than I used to be. Especially when it comes to my kids. They just grow and change so freaking much. And it's not that I don't like who they are today, because they slay me daily with the things that come out of their mouths, so I certainly wouldn't want them to be nonverbal babies forever. But I love remembering the road we've traveled. 

Having Callum wear Connor's old clothes is like a fun walk down memory lane for me. That first year with Connor was a special one. It was my first year of motherhood and I was really trying to get my footing. But, it was also a special time spent in Scotland, a place so dear to my heart. I am not really picky about my kids clothes and really rarely buy them anything new (I know, I'm kind of cheap). So, if I buy something, it means I really liked it and more than likely that I will remember it. 

This particular outfit I bought for Connor in Scotland. I just love it. I love how soft it is. And I love that it is babyish without being overly cutesy. So I was pretty excited when it was chilly the other morning so I had an excuse to throw it on Callum. Connor wore this outfit numerous times, and I was pretty sure I had pictures of him in it at the park…and low and behold, I did. 

Just for reference, Connor is about two weeks older in these pictures than Callum is in the top picture. Connor was an expert crawler at this point, and also standing. Wowsers. This time around, I am happy for Callum to just keep sitting for a bit longer. Because life certainly will be changing around our house once that kid becomes mobile! Oh the joys of having older kids with toys that have insanely small parts…eek. These boys (and their sister), they have my heart. I just love them so.

I may not be super emotional, but I am totally feeling all the feels right now! And all because of a baby outfit. Yep, I am a total sap.

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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

^^ This just may be my current favorite picture of my kids together!

Is it me or is Christmas getting earlier and earlier every year? I used to decorate our house on Thanksgiving evening because I thought I was breaking some rule by decorating earlier. But, this year my neighbor put up their Christmas tree the week after halloween. That sparkly tree in their front window has brought my kids so much joy. On the second night, Connor even excitedly shouted, "It's still up mom, it's still up!" And santa is already out at the mall. So much for waiting for Thanksgiving to pass!

I'm not going to lie, I kind of love Christmas starting earlier and lasting longer. I know some people, shall we call them grinches?, hate it. But I have nothing but love. It is my favorite holiday, after all. I had a customer at Starbucks go crazy on me for us starting to play Christmas music at the beginning of December...of course, I couldn't understand his dismay because I was loving it!

With Christmas starting earlier, it gives me more time to dress my kids in cute holiday clothes. Should I mention that Isla has three holiday dresses this year?!? A little overkill, I know...but one was mine as a toddler, and the other two are adorable hand me downs...and they all MUST BE WORN! Speaking of Christmas clothes, these adorable personalized Christmas shirts from Bright Star Kids will definitely be worn a lot this holiday season...and I may have ordered a size up in hopes they can still wear them next year! I am in love with the fact that Isla's has little cap sleeves on it. And, since I always feel like I missed out on the whole matching clothes thing for my kids, after all they are a boy and girl, I like that I am able to find coordinating pieces for them.

Now to get on decorating for the holidays...I totally thought I would jump on the bandwagon and do it early this year, alas life has been busy and there hasn't been time yet. Soon, though. Soon.

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Bright Star Kids. The opinions and text are all mine.

Quite the Character

Last year, when Connor came home with these shoes, I was mortified. Not only are they crazy bright and tacky, but they LIGHT UP. Just not my style at all. But, they made Connor happy. Oh-so-very-happy. He wore them until he could no longer squeeze his feet in without them hurting...which was just a couple weeks ago. And he actually squeezed his feet in a few times while they did hurt, but stubbornly didn't want to wear other shoes.

The ironic thing about these shoes is that they opened the door wide to Connor choosing what he wants to wear. It started with these shoes. Then came the minion shirts, which never seem to come off his body. And, he just seems to have an affinity for wearing really, um, tacky things. It's almost funny. Now that I think about it, loud clothing must just be his thing.

Gone are the days that I can dress Connor in polo shirts with a v-neck cardigan on top. In fact, if I want him to wear anything other than a minion shirt, I have to prep him for days. Still, he will ask for his minion shirt on the day of. This morning, as he was getting dressed, he came and told me I had obviously put the wrong shirt out because it was just a plain shirt and he didn't want to wear a plain shirt. Now, it wasn't just a plain shirt, but it didn't have anything crazy going on, so plain in Connor's book.

All this to say, it's funny how we will change to allow our children be themselves. As time goes on, I have gotten more and more ok with Connor wearing clothing that wouldn't be my first choice. Why is it ok? Because he is his own person and I get wanting to be proud of your outfit. So, my son, wear whatever crazy minion shirt you want. But, I do draw the line at shirts that have ridiculous sayings on them. Because, mama has to draw the line somewhere!

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